The news that PPA can cause strokes is a very serious issue for large pharmaceutical companies that sell popular OTC cold remedies containing PPA. This story is hitting them at the worst possible time from a marketing perspective--at the beginning of the cold season. Not only are they trying to convince the public to buy their product, but now they have to deal with a public relations problem that says their product might cause you to have a stroke and DIE. No matter how low the risk, I don't think that people will take a chance with their life, and this is a very serious public relations problem for the drug companies that sell PPA containing cold remedies.
The FDA language is strong and clear. From msnbc.com
Cold drug ingredient called unsafe.
"But the Food and Drug Administration’s scientific advisers voted Thursday that phenylpropanolamine, or PPA, cannot be classified as safe, a classification critical to drugs’ ability to sell without a prescription.
The FDA already was considering banning nonprescription PPA, and the advisory panel’s ruling - while not directly addressing the question of a ban - strengthens that possibility. The FDA is not bound by its advisers’ decisions but usually follows them."
The implication is that the FDA could ban OTC drug remedies that contain PPA and only permit them to be sold as prescriptions. Even if the FDA doesn't do anything that drastic, this story is sure to scare a lot of people who will undoubtedly look for cold remedies that don't contain PPA. The FDA said PPA "can not be classified as safe" and that it might cause you to have a fatal stroke! This is a huge statement that Gel Tech can capitalize on. Someone on Yahoo suggested that Gel Tech send stickers to retailers that they can put on boxes of Zicam that says "Does not contain PPA", or something to that effect. Most importantly, Gel Tech needs to ensure the public that Zicam does not contain PPA. Secondly, they can probably get sales from people who are shopping for a cold remedy that doesn't contain PPA. Gel Tech's public relations firm, Edelman, is very sharp and I'm sure that they will capitalize on this to the benefit of Gel Tech. |
